treatment

Everyday

1. Treatment is the care given by a doctor, nurse or other helper to make someone better when they are ill or injured. tree →
2. Treatment is the way you behave towards someone («fair treatment», «unkind treatment»). tree →
3. A treatment is a way of cleaning or protecting something («water treatment», «wood treatment»). tree →

In the lessons

In science and health lessons treatment covers first aid, medicines and hospital care; pupils learn to tell an adult when hurt so they can get treatment. In PSHE «fair treatment» and «equal treatment» link to rules and rights. In science, water treatment makes water safe to drink. Phrases: «medical treatment», «receive treatment», «the silent treatment», «special treatment».

Examples

• He needed hospital treatment after falling off his bike. tree →
• The treatment for a small burn is cool running water. tree →
• Everyone deserves fair treatment. tree →
• She gave her brother the silent treatment. tree →
• The water goes through treatment before it reaches our taps. tree →
• The vet said the dog's treatment would take two weeks. tree →
• No one gets special treatment in this class. tree →
• The fence had a treatment to stop it rotting. tree →
• "I should not endure such treatment," said the tax-collector's wife. tree →

Note

Usually uncountable («medical treatment»), but «a treatment» for one kind. From the verb «treat». Trap: «treat» also means a nice surprise; «treatment» never means that. «The silent treatment» means refusing to speak to someone.